Video: Both Sides Spin CBO Numbers

In this week’s video with FactCheck.org, CNN’s Jake Tapper looks at how members of both parties are spinning the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of how many people will be insured under the Senate health care bill.

The CBO projects that the bill would increase the number of uninsured Americans by 22 million in 2026.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a former Democratic presidential candidate, says the bill “would throw 22 million Americans off of health insurance.” House Speaker Paul Ryan insists that is not the case.

“It’s not that our people are getting pushed off our plan,” the Wisconsin Republican said. “It’s that people will choose not to buy something they don’t like or want.”

Both characterizations of the bill’s impact are inaccurate. It’s actually a combination of both: Some healthy Americans will choose not to buy insurance, but others who want coverage won’t be able to afford to buy private insurance on the individual market, or will not have access to Medicaid in the future.